In Australia, 1800 numbers are free for callers, 1300 and 13 numbers cost callers a fixed, local-style rate from most landlines, and in every case the business that owns the number pays the rest of the call cost. 13 numbers are shorter (six digits) and scarcer, which makes them the most memorable — and usually the most expensive to acquire.

This guide compares 1300, 1800 and 13 numbers so you can choose the right inbound number for your business, and explains the call-management features that make them work harder.

What is an inbound number?

An inbound number (also called a toll-free, local-rate or “smart” number) isn’t tied to a single phone line. Calls to it are routed over the network to wherever you choose — an office, a mobile, a call centre, an AI Voice Agent or a live answering team — and you can change that routing at any time.

1800 numbers

• Cost to caller: free.
• Who pays: the business pays for the call.
• Best for: sales lines, customer service and any business that wants to remove every barrier to calling — especially nationally.

1300 numbers

• Cost to caller: a fixed, local-style rate from most landlines; mobile charges depend on the caller’s plan.
• Who pays: the caller pays their portion and the business pays the remainder, so call costs are usually lower for the business than 1800.
• Best for: businesses that want a single national number with a professional image at a lower running cost.

13 numbers

• Cost to caller: the same structure as 1300.
• Who pays: as for 1300.
• Best for: brands that want the shortest, most memorable number possible — for example a six-digit number that spells a word.
• Note: 13 numbers are limited in supply, so premium or word-based numbers can carry a significant upfront cost.

Quick comparison

Features that make an inbound number work harder

The number itself is only half the value. On Telcode’s Call Platform, inbound numbers come with real-time controls in a web portal, including:

• Time-of-day and public holiday routing — send calls to different places during and after business hours.
• Area-based routing — route callers to their nearest store or team based on where they’re calling from.
• Network IVR — “press 1 for sales, 2 for support” menus without on-site equipment.
• Network call queueing — hold callers in a queue instead of giving them a busy signal.
• Call recording and live reporting — see every call as it happens.
• Disaster recovery and multi-carrier redundancy — reroute instantly if a site or line goes down.
• AI Voice Agents — answer every call 24/7 and book, qualify or route callers automatically.

Can I keep my existing number if I change providers?

In most cases, yes — inbound numbers can usually be moved (ported) to a new provider so your customers keep calling the number they know. Talk to the Telcode team about moving your numbers to Call Platform.

Frequently asked questions

Are 1800 numbers free from mobiles?

1800 numbers are designed to be free for callers. If free calling from every type of phone is important to you, an 1800 number is the safest choice.

Should I get a 1300 or an 1800 number?

Choose 1800 if you want calling to be free for customers and you’re happy to pay more per call. Choose 1300 if you want a national number with lower running costs. Many businesses use both — for example 1800 for sales and 1300 for general enquiries.

Can I add an AI receptionist to my 1300 number?

Yes. Telcode’s AI Voice Agents run on the same platform as your inbound numbers, so you can put an AI receptionist in front of any 1300, 1800 or 13 number.

Get the right inbound number

Telcode launched Call Platform in 2014 as a full-feature inbound call management platform and today supplies inbound numbers, AI Voice Agents and SMS to Australian businesses and wholesale partners. Talk to our team or call 1300 818 123.